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While he made his way at the Parisian detention facility this week, Nicolas Sarkozy published a declaration brimming with defiance via social media, stating, "This isn't a ex-leader of the republic facing incarceration today, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." A court of appeal is set to rule on the truthfulness of his claim. However, regrettably for the ex-president, the turmoil and significance of his fall cannot be dismissed.

The Legal Judgment

President of France during the 2007-2012 term, the former president was convicted of unlawful plotting to acquire prohibited donations from the administration of the former Libyan ruler, the Libyan strongman. Given a five-year sentence, he has emerged as the pioneering past president of an EU country to go behind bars, and the first French leader since the dishonored head of Vichy France, the Vichy leader. Within a nation where the elected president enjoys a almost king-like position, the recent unprecedented scene was a seminal moment.

Public Trust and Judicial Responsibility

At a time when faith in political institutions in France has collapsed to the point where the lights are flashing red, it was also a salutary demonstration that no one is above the law. In a poll released this week, a majority of participants stated that they felt a most of politicians were corrupt, and nearly nine out of 10 said that many operated primarily out of individual benefit. When convicting the former president and mandating that his incarceration should start immediately, the presiding magistrate, the judge, said that she considered both the extremely serious character of the offences and the fact that they were "could damage citizens' trust."

Judicial Threats

Those thoughts might be seen as ordinary, particularly since that Mr Sarkozy has previously been sentenced in distinct bribery proceedings. But the Sarkozy trial and its aftermath have troublingly exposed the degree to which in France, as in different nations, the judicial framework is threatened by a increasingly common contempt for the judiciary and the effort to control of public opinion.

Following a populist playbook, an thorough and detailed legal process has been groundlessly presented by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a legal conspiracy and ideological revenge. Following the ruling recently, the ex-leader openly condemned his punishment as illegal and censured the "hostility" with "no boundaries" that allegedly motivated it. As senior politicians and advocates from the traditional and radical have dominated media discussions and right-leaning media with the identical arguments, Ms Gavarino has obtained multiple threats.

Public Response

Hearteningly, the public seems unconvinced. A post-verdict poll found significant majorities endorsing both the handling of the legal case and his sentencing. Yet the drama, and the blatant effort to damage the credibility of the legal system, was very likely merely a dress rehearsal. In January, the National Rally figure's court petition against a judgment for embezzlement of political funds will take place. If the appeal fails, the far-right National Rally leader will be excluded from participating in the future campaign.

Long-term Effects

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a dangerous time for the national legal system to manage. Mr Sarkozy may yet be released before his own appeal, subsequent to a petition by his lawyers. But the unfounded and damaging assaults on the legal system at all stages of his proceedings have created a negative standard.